Semiconductor package including top-surface terminals for mounting another semiconductor package

ABSTRACT

A semiconductor package including top-surface terminals for mounting another semiconductor package provides a three-dimensional circuit configuration that can provide removable connection of existing grid-array packages having a standard design. A semiconductor die is mounted on an electrically connected to a circuit substrate having terminals disposed on a bottom side for connection to an external system. The die and substrate are encapsulated and vias are laser-ablated or otherwise formed through the encapsulation to terminals on the top surface of the substrate that provide a grid array mounting lands to which another grid array semiconductor package may be mounted. The bottom side of the vias may terminate and electrically connect to terminals on the substrate, terminals on the bottom of the semiconductor package (through terminals) or terminals on the top of the semiconductor die. The vias may be plated, paste-filled, filled with a low melting point alloy and may have a conical profile for improved plating performance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of U.S. Patent Application“METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE”, Ser. No. 10/806,640,filed on Mar. 23, 2004, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. PatentApplication “INTEGRATED CIRCUIT SUBSTRATE HAVING LASER-EMBEDDEDCONDUCTIVE PATTERNS AND METHOD THEREFOR”, Ser. No. 10/138,225 filed onMay 1, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,930,256, issued Aug. 16, 2005, by atleast one common inventor and assigned to the same assignee. Thespecifications of the above-referenced Patent Applications are hereinincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to semiconductor packaging, andmore specifically, to a semiconductor package having top-surface gridarray terminals for mounting another semiconductor package.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Semiconductor packages that provide mechanical mounting and electricalinterconnection of a semiconductor die are commonly provided in ballgrid array and land grid array configurations. A semiconductor die iselectrically connected to a substrate with a grid array terminalsdisposed on the “bottom” side of the semiconductor package and solderballs are attached for connection to a system substrate, typically aprinted circuit board (PCB) having lands located to attach the solderballs of the semiconductor package (referred to as ball grid array orBGA attach). Alternatively, conductive paste, a socket or “interposer”may be used to provide contacts between lands of the semiconductorpackage and lands on the system substrate (referred to as land gridarray or LGA connection).

Typical system interconnect of grid array type packaging is generallytwo-dimensional. That is, multiple grid array devices are mounted on aPCB in different locations along the surface of the PCB andinterconnected via circuit traces on or within the PCB. Such mounting issuitable for small, thin assemblies, but when the area of a PCB is ofconcern in a design, or in systems where other components are muchtaller than the semiconductor packages are present, it would bedesirable to require less circuit board area by stacking semiconductorpackages.

Specific semiconductor packages used for implementing three-dimensionalstacked packages are well known in the art. However, such packaging istypically not compatible with existing integrated circuit packages, sothat two or more integrated circuits that are “stacked” must all bedesigned for stacking.

Also, when combining multiple semiconductor packages in an assembly, attimes it is advantageous to permit removal of at least of onesemiconductor package, so that when one semiconductor package is usedwith one of multiple alternative other semiconductor packages in athree-dimensional configuration, the interconnect between asemiconductor package may be standardized and so that one of thesemiconductor packages may be removed and replaced without removing theother.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a semiconductor package thatfacilitates stacking of grid arrays and a method of manufacturing such asemiconductor package. It would further be desirable to provide such apackage that provides mounting of another grid array or othersemiconductor package that is removable and that may be interchangeablystandardized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above objectives are accomplished in a semiconductor package havingterminals on the semiconductor package top surface for mounting andelectrically connecting to terminals of a piggybacked semiconductorpackage and method for manufacturing the semiconductor package. Thesemiconductor package includes a semiconductor die mounted on asubstrate and an encapsulation covering the semiconductor die and atleast the top surface of the substrate. Multiple terminals are providedon a top surface of the encapsulation for attachment of the piggybackedsemiconductor package, which may be a standard ball grid or land gridarray package.

The top-surface terminals may be top surfaces of vias formed through theencapsulation by laser-ablation or other mechanism and filled withconductive paste or a low melting-temperature alloy or plated. The viasmay have a conical profile to improved plating uniformity. The vias mayterminate on the substrate circuit pattern, on electrical terminals onthe top surface of the semiconductor die, or may pass through theencapsulation and the substrate to provide lands for bottom-sideterminals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a pictorial diagram depicting a cross sectional side view ofa semiconductor package for forming a modified semiconductor package inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1B is a pictorial diagram depicting a cross sectional side view ofthe semiconductor package of FIG. 1A after via holes have been formed;

FIG. 1C is a pictorial diagram depicting a cross sectional side view ofthe semiconductor package of FIG. 1B after vias are filled;

FIG. 1D is a pictorial diagram depicting a cross sectional side view ofthe semiconductor package of FIG. 1C after solder balls are attached tolands;

FIG. 2A is a pictorial diagram depicting an electronic assembly inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a pictorial diagram depicting an electronic assembly inaccordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2C is a pictorial diagram depicting an electronic assembly inaccordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention.

The invention, as well as a preferred mode of use and advantagesthereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detaileddescription of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate likeparts throughout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention concerns a semiconductor package and a method formanufacturing a semiconductor package that provide for top mounting ofanother semiconductor package in a “piggyback” configuration. While theexemplary embodiments depict ball grid array packages mounted atop aplurality of lands on the top side of a modified semiconductor package,it should be understood by those skilled in the art, that the techniquesof the present invention can be extended to other types of semiconductorinterconnects.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, a semiconductor package 10A for forming asemiconductor package and corresponding to a first illustrated step ofmanufacture is depicted. Semiconductor package 10A is in the form of aball grid array (BGA) or land grid array (LGA) package as is commonlyknown in the art, except that particular circuit features are positionedfor providing vias to the top side of semiconductor package 10A insubsequent manufacturing steps, so that another semiconductor packagemay be mounted atop semiconductor package 10A.

Semiconductor package 10A includes a die 16 mounted to a substrate 14Athat includes lands 18 to which solder ball terminals may be attached orthat may be connected with a conductive paste to form a LGA mountedsemiconductor package. Encapsulation 12A surrounds die and substrate14A, although substrate 14A may alternatively be exposed on a bottomside of semiconductor package 10A. Electrical connections 15 of die 16are connected to circuit patterns 17 on substrate 14A via wires 19, butthe type of die mounting is not limiting, but exemplary and other diemounting types may be used such as flip-chip die mounting. Additionally,while substrate 14A is depicted as a film or laminate-type mountingstructure, lead frame and other substrate technologies may be usedwithin the structures of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, a first modification to semiconductor package10A that illustrates a second step in the manufacturing process to formsemiconductor package 10B is shown. Semiconductor package 10B includes aplurality of via holes 20A, 20B and 20C laser-ablated throughencapsulation 12A of FIG. 1A to form encapsulation 12B. While only threevia holes are shown, many vias holes will be provided, generally in theform of a grid array for mounting a second BGA/LGA package atop thesemiconductor package. The three via holes shown illustrate the threedifferent types of via holes that may be provided through control oflaser energy and exposure time. The first via hole type, illustrated asvia 20A, is fabricated by laser-ablating either completely throughsemiconductor package 10B or by laser-ablating through encapsulation 12Ato the top side of lands 18, so that a connection is provided throughfrom the top side of semiconductor package 10B to the bottom side ofsemiconductor package 10B when the via is filled. If via 20A is ablatedcompletely through, then the corresponding land 18 is provided by thebottom surface of a via formed in hole 20A.

The next type of via hole is provided by laser-ablating throughencapsulation 12A to reach circuit pattern 17 to that connection may bemade through substrate 14A circuit patterns to die 16 electricalterminals, to lands 18 or both. The last type of via is provided bylaser-ablating through encapsulation 12A to reach electrical connections15 of die 16 so that direct connection to the circuits of die 16 can bemade from a piggybacked semiconductor package. Each of via holes 22A,22B and 22C is depicted as a via hole having a conical cross-section,which is desirable for providing uniform plating current density duringa plating process. However, via holes 22A, 22B and 22C may alternativelybe made cylindrical in shape if the advantage of cylindricalcross-section is not needed, for example if a conductive paste is usedto fill the via holes.

Referring now to FIG. 1C, a semiconductor package 10C is illustratedforming a complete LGA package. Conductive material is applied withinvia holes 20A, 20B and 20C to form conductive vias 22A, 22B and 22Cthrough encapsulation 12C and optionally substrate 14C for vias that areformed completely through substrate 14C. The conductive material used toform vias 22A, 22B and 22C may be electroplated or electro-less platedmetal, conductive paste such as copper or silver epoxy compounds, or alow melting temperature high-wicking solder alloy such as SUPER SOLDER.

Referring now to FIG. 1D, a semiconductor package 10D is illustratedforming a complete BGA package. Solder balls 24 are attached to lands 18to provide the BGA terminals used to connect semiconductor package 10Dto a system substrate, such as a PCB.

Referring now to FIG. 2A, an electronic assembly 30 in accordance withan embodiment of the invention is depicted. Electronic assembly 30includes a base semiconductor package 32 as formed by theabove-described process that includes through-to-land vias 34 to lands31 and through-to-substrate vias 34A provided that contact theconductive pattern 35 on the top side of the substrate. A piggybackedsecond semiconductor package 36, of BGA design, is attached via solderballs 38 that provide connection to the tops of vias 34 and 34A andconnect the terminals of semiconductor package 36 to internal circuitsof base semiconductor package 32 or to isolated terminals 37 provided onthe bottom side of base semiconductor package 36. The piggyback mountingconfiguration provides advantages over custom-designed three dimensionalpackaging, as semiconductor package 36 may be a standardized part or apart having a design not under the control of a maker of basesemiconductor package 32 and therefore the provision of a top sideBGA/LGA pattern on base semiconductor package 32 makes it possible tostack a pre-designed standard BGA/LGA package. Also, even when controlof the design of semiconductor package 36 is possible, use of astandardized layout such as BGA/LGA provides compatibility with standardPCB package attach layouts where semiconductor package 36 may also beused in a board mounted configuration without piggybacking.

Referring now to FIG. 2B, an electronic assembly 40 is shown inaccordance with another embodiment of the invention. Vias 44 areprovided through to electrical connections 43 of die 41, providing adirect interface from the circuits of die 41 to circuits withinpiggybacked semiconductor package 46. Attachment of semiconductorpackage 46 is made via solder balls 48 where semiconductor package 46may be a standard BGA package or a custom package layout designed tointerface with electrical connections 43 of die 41. The depictedconfiguration is especially useful where short physical connections froma first semiconductor package 42 must be provided to a secondinterchangeable semiconductor package 46.

Referring now to FIG. 2C, an electronic assembly 50 is shown inaccordance with another embodiment of the invention. Vias 54 areprovided through to electrical connections 53 of die 51, providing adirect interface from the circuits of die 51 to circuits withinpiggybacked semiconductor die 56, which is depicted as a flip-chip die.Attachment of semiconductor die 56 is made via solder balls 58 (oralternatively posts) where semiconductor die 56 is custom package layoutdesigned to interface with electrical connections 53 of die 51. Thedepicted configuration is especially useful where die 56 is one ofseveral interchangeable dies that may be used to upgrade or provideoptions for use with die 51. An optional encapsulation 57, is depictedas deposited over die 56.

In addition to the die electrical connection interface depicted in FIG.2C, through-to-land or through-to-substrate circuit pattern vias mayalso be used to connect a die such as flip-chip die 56 directly toterminals of base semiconductor package 52 or circuit patterns on aninternal substrate. Such configurations provide the advantages ofthree-dimensional stacking without requiring direct connection to a diewithin base semiconductor package 52.

The above description of embodiments of the invention is intended to beillustrative and not limiting. Other embodiments of this invention willbe obvious to those skilled in the art in view of the above disclosureand fall within the scope of the present invention.

1. A semiconductor package, comprising: a semiconductor die; a substrateincluding a conductive circuit pattern for connecting electricalconnections of the semiconductor die to a plurality of bottom-sideterminals accessible from the bottom side of the substrate, wherein thesemiconductor die is mounted on a top surface of the substrate; anencapsulation covering the semiconductor die and at least the topsurface of the substrate; and a plurality of top-surface terminalsdisposed on a top surface of the encapsulation for mounting andelectrically connecting to a second semiconductor package, and whereinthe top-surface terminals are electrically connected to at least one ofthe conductive circuit pattern of the substrate, the electricalconnections of the semiconductor die and the bottom-side terminals,wherein the top-surface terminals are provided by conductor-filled viasprovided through the encapsulation and substrate and are accessible fromthe bottom side of the substrate, and wherein at least one of thebottom-side terminals is provided by a bottom side of one of the vias,whereby an electrical interface of the second semiconductor package isaccessible from the bottom side of the semiconductor package.
 2. Thesemiconductor package of claim 1, wherein the top-surface terminals areprovided by conductor-filled vias provided through the encapsulation andterminating on the conductive pattern of the substrate, whereby anelectrical interface of the second semiconductor package is accessiblevia connection to the circuit pattern of the substrate.
 3. Thesemiconductor package of claim 2, wherein the conductive patternconnects the vias to the bottom-side terminals so that an electricalinterface of the second semiconductor package is accessible viaconnection to the bottom-side terminals.
 4. The semiconductor package ofclaim 2, wherein the conductive pattern connects the vias to theelectrical connections of the semiconductor die so that an electricalinterface of the second semiconductor package is connected to thesemiconductor die.
 5. The semiconductor package of claim 1, wherein thetop-surface terminals are provided by conductor-filled vias providedthrough the encapsulation and terminating on the electrical connectionsof the semiconductor die provided on a top surface of the semiconductordie, whereby an electrical interface of the second semiconductor packageis connected to the semiconductor die.
 6. The semiconductor package ofclaim 1, wherein the top-surface terminals form a grid array landconfiguration for mounting and electrically connecting a grid arraysemiconductor package as the second semiconductor package.
 7. Thesemiconductor package of claim 1, wherein the top-surface terminals areformed by plated vias extending through the encapsulation to at leastone of the conductive circuit pattern of the substrate, the electricalconnections of the semiconductor die and the bottom-side terminals, andwherein the vias have a conical cross section, whereby platinguniformity is improved.
 8. The semiconductor package of claim 1, whereinthe top-surface terminals are formed by vias filled with conductivepaste and extending through the encapsulation to provide an interconnectto at least one of the conductive circuit pattern of the substrate, theelectrical connections of the semiconductor die and the bottom-sideterminals.
 9. A semiconductor package, comprising: a semiconductor diemounted to a substrate, the semiconductor die being electricallyconnected to a circuit pattern of the substrate, wherein the substratehas a plurality of bottom side electrical terminals on a bottom side; anencapsulation encapsulating the semiconductor die and at least a topsurface of the substrate; laser-ablated via holes through at least theencapsulation; and a plurality of top-surface terminals formed byconductor-filled vias within the laser-ablated via holes, thetop-surface terminals on a top surface of the semiconductor package forconnecting a second semiconductor package to the semiconductor package,wherein the vias extend through the encapsulation and substrate and areaccessible from the bottom side of the substrate, and wherein at leastone of the bottom side terminals is provided by a bottom side of one ofthe vias, whereby an electrical interface of the second semiconductorpackage is accessible from the bottom side of the semiconductor package.10. The semiconductor package of claim 9, wherein the laser-ablated viaholes are formed by a laser.
 11. The semiconductor package of claim 9,wherein the vias provide electrical connections from at least one of theplurality of top-surface terminals to the circuit pattern.
 12. Thesemiconductor package of claim 9, wherein the vias provide electricalconnections from at least one of the plurality of top-surface terminalsto an electrical connection of the semiconductor die.